Taichung cleaner touched 9-year-old girl's breasts and abdomen, pleaded not guilty, judge angrily sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months

When A Qiang (pseudonym), a Taichung man, was working as a cleaner in a community in East District, Taipei, in February this year, he saw a 9-year-old girl, Xiaohua (pseudonym), waiting for her classmates on a bench next to the recycling room at the back door of the community. He pretended to ask if she wanted to play games? He touched his back, chest and abdomen. Xiaohua was frightened and shouted "No". He ran home and cried to his family and complained to the police. During the trial at the Taichung District Court, Aqiang denied that he had the intention to sexually molest. However, the judge did not believe it. He deemed that an adult intentionally committed sexual molestation against a child and was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. He can appeal.

The verdict pointed out that Taichung man A Qiang (pseudonym) was working as a cleaner at a community building in East District, Taichung City at 1:50 pm on February 27, 2026. A Qiang found the girl Xiaohua (pseudonym) waiting for her classmates on the bench next to the recycling room at the back door of the community. He first asked her if she wanted to play games, then touched Xiaohua's face and back with his hands, and then touched her shoulders, chest and abdomen, sexually harassing Xiaohua.

Xiaohua was frightened by the sudden action. She quickly yelled and broke away from the scene, and went home to tell her family. Xiaohua's sister and brother accompanied her back to the community, and her brother accompanied him to the police station to report the case. The police found him and transferred him to the District Prosecutor's Office for investigation.

During the trial at the Taichung District Court, Aqiang admitted that he touched the girl's face, back and abdomen, but denied any sexual harassment. He argued that he just thought the girl was cute and wanted to play games with her. When the girl stood up and turned to leave, his hand accidentally touched her abdomen, but he did not touch her breasts or grab the girl's hand.

The judge of the Taichung District Court believed that after the incident, the girl showed emotional reactions of crying, nervousness, and panic, and immediately returned home to seek help from her brothers and sisters. She was accompanied by her family and returned to the community to call the police. The circumstances she said were credible, and the girl was only 9 years old at the time of the incident. She was not acquainted with Aqiangsu, had no grudges or interests, and had no deliberately fictitious motives.

The Taichung District Court believed that Aqiang was an adult and the girl was only 9 years old. Her ability to recognize danger, reject others and protect herself was weaker than that of adults. Aqiang touched her back and abdomen while she was alone, showing a serious lack of respect for the child's bodily autonomy and body boundaries. After deliberation, he always denied the crime and failed to reconcile with the girl. He was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months for sexual harassment of a child, with the possibility of appeal.

☆Respect body autonomy, be brave enough to stop sexual harassment and say no, please call 113 or 110☆

☆Modern Women’s Foundation sexual assault prevention service hotline 02-7728-5098 extension 7☆